This after the Polokwane high court found Manamela guilty of the murder and theft of Lamola’s cellphone and house keys in Seshego Zone 4 two years ago.

Speaking after the judgment, Lamola’s mother, Johanna, welcomed the sentence imposed on Manamela.

“Life sentence is good for him. I will never see my daughter again after he brutally killed her. He must never come back to the community, he should rot in jail,” she said.

Johanna said Manamela refused to confess that he killed her daughter.

“Even if he confesses now and apologises, I will not accept his apology. I will hate him until I die.”

Judge Ephraim Makgoba, who flayed police for failing to take some evidence for laboratory testing, said the postmortem results had revealed that Lamola died from multiple stab wounds.

“It shows that she was stabbed seven times on her neck, further seven times on her body and the rest was on her legs and hands. The family wounds were not healed as many broke down in tears during the trial,” he said.

Makgoba described Manamela as a poor and dishonest witness and commended state witnesses for their transparency and honesty.

“I have been observing his body language throughout the trial and does not show any remorse,” he said.

Defence lawyer Sam Mamabolo mitigated that what Manamela did was a “crime of passion”. But Makgoba said the incident was a pure premeditated murder.

The court also found that Manamela had threatened to commit suicide after Lamola broke up with him.

The state submitted a suicide note from Manamela which was found a day after his arrest in his rented room in Seshego Zone 4.

In the suicide note, which was read out in court, Manamela accuses Lamola of cheating on him with ANC Milo Malatji branch chairperson in Seshego Boy Mamabolo.

In the note, Manamela wishes Mamabolo and Lamola a happy relationship.

Mamabolo yesterday told Sowetan Manamela’s allegations were misinformed, because Lamola had been his comrade.

“I knew Lebogang for five years as a friend and comrade. I once confronted him over these allegations and understood each other,” said Mamabolo